Presented by thehockeynews.com’s fantasy expert Darryl Dobbs, Fantasy Pool Look is an-depth look at player trends, injuries and much more, as it pertains to rotisserie pool leagues. Get the edge in your league only on THN.com.

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Our fantasy guru gives you general tips on how to attack your playoff draft - and stay tuned for playoff analysis.
The post-season kicks off in eight days, which is fantastic when you consider that we almost didn't have a post-season at all. This year’s playoff pools are generating more buzz than ever before, as the legions of fans who refused to bother with fantasy hockey in any form after the ridiculous lockout suddenly realized they missed the action.

The Islanders seem to be coming into their own and poolies who invested in them during the rebuild will be rewarded.
It was four long years ago when the Islanders were at, if not rock bottom, then pretty damn close to it. It was at that time when I started hinting for keeper leaguers to consider picking up some of the youngsters there.

Teams on the outside of the playoff race are already looking toward next year.
It's been said a million times, but I'll say it again: this season went by quickly. The season kicks off, you blink, and now your team is battling for a playoff spot.

Looking at players who will fall short of or exceed expectations because the season wasn't long enough to correct course.
We've entered the final three weeks of the season and things are starting to balance out. The only problem is the shortened season. While in an 82-game campaign a market correction that begins at Game 40 leaves plenty of time for a player to get his numbers back to normal, that's not the case this year.

PA Parenteau is an afterthought to most poolies, but they should pay closer attention to the way he was brought along.
"I'll give you Jason Pominville for PA Parenteau."
This email came across my screen a week ago from a fellow GM in one of my points-only keeper leagues, where points transfer over in trades.

Looking at 10 players who saw their fantasy value rise the most as a result of trades made at the deadline.
It wasn't the usual trade deadline, that's for sure. With pretty much no deals at all before 1:30, some huge trades went down over the final 90 minutes, many with far-reaching implications.

If your team isn't going to win, you have to accept that fact and go into a rebuild. And if you do it right, you'll be back before you know it.
There comes a point in every long-running keeper league team's history when it's time to call a spade a spade. You're treading water, with no shot at a trophy, not even a shot at top three glory…yet your team is too good to finish in the bottom three and land a good draft pick.

Dobber breaks down shifting fantasy values after a weekend of earlier-then-expected moves.
Did the trade deadline get moved up a week? A lot happened this past weekend to suggest we’re just three days away from the trade deadline, as opposed to the actual 10 days.

Dobber looks at players you can buy low and sell high to give your team the edge in the NHL's stretch drive.
It feels weird to say this, considering that NHL teams only have about 30 games in the books, but we're heading down the stretch. With 17 to 20 games left on the schedule, there are some players you should be looking at for a hot finish - and of course, other players who are bound to cool off.

Eight players off to awful starts who you should drop, with suggestions on who you should replace them with.
Looking through the statistics, you'll find many players who are falling short of expectations. From stars such as Alex Ovechkin, Jordan Eberle and Claude Giroux, to some of the lesser lights who fill out the bottom half of fantasy teams, poolies are looking for answers.

Looking at 11 players who are bouncing back from a down year and giving someone an edge in your pool.
“What have you done for me lately” is the creed of fantasy owners. "What, you got 70 points two years ago? Who cares, last year you only managed 50 and it killed my fantasy squad.

After years of drafting flops on the flanks, Pittsburgh looks to have developed a winger in-house who's there to stay.
Well, that only took eight years.
That's how long fantasy hockey analysts (ahem, me) have been preaching that poolies should pick up this prospect and that prospect, simply based on the fact that they belong to the Pittsburgh organization.